Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s sermon at the House of Bishops

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry gave a 30-minute sermon at the opening Eucharist of the House of Bishops meeting in Minneapolis. He made several references to the political climate in the nation today, David Paulson of the Episcopal News Service wrote, “that he sought to infuse with Christian urgency rather than partisan fervor.”

“I’m not being political. This is biblical,” Curry said.

He invoked Isaiah’s command to “look to the rock” of God for spiritual stability, and, Paulson continued, “Curry downplayed The Episcopal Church’s recently released parochial report data showing membership and attendance losses, and he rejected rhetoric that urges Americans to look backward, such as ‘Make America Great Again.’

“Isaiah wasn’t ‘pining for the past. He’s summoning providence, summoning up principles and values,’ Curry said. ‘This isn’t about pining for the past. This is about standing on solid ground that cannot be shaken.’